NASCAR tells Marcos Ambrose he's in the Daytona 500; Brad Keselowski must qualify

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, February 05, 2009
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JTG Daugherty Racing's Marcos Ambrose has been informed by NASCAR that he is locked into field for the Daytona 500.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – JTG Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose will have a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500 and the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup races, but Phoenix Racing’s Brad Kesolowski will have to race his way into the events, Ambrose and Keselowski said Thursday morning.
 
Sanctioning body officials decided that allowing the transfer of a car number for a rookie to run a fifth car wasn’t the intent of the points-transfer rules and won’t allow a transfer of Chip Ganassi Racing points from last season to Phoenix Racing’s Keselowski. The move will lock Ambrose into the season’s opening five events.
 
Ambrose was told of the situation Thursday morning, and when the haulers entered the track, Ambrose and that of Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer were among the top 35 while Keselowski was not.
 
“It is with caution that I say that it looks like we are in the 500,” Ambrose said Thursday. “NASCAR spoke to us this morning and yesterday. If nothing changes, we’re going to be lining up for the 500, which is a huge relief.”
 
NASCAR doesn’t allow teams to sell points outright but generally approves transfers to other teams as long as the original owner has a minimal ownership stake.
 
Keselowski was expected to get the points from the No. 41 car (33rd in owner points last year) as part of a deal that would allow him to be a fifth Earnhardt Ganassi Racing car under the four-car cap provision that allows for an additional car for a driver preparing for a full-time ride in the future. But NASCAR officials indicated they have ruled that the points-transfer rules were not designed to give a team a fifth car for a rookie.
 
“I’ll be honest – I don’t understand how I got in; I don’t understand how I’m out,” Keselowski said Thursday. “I’m back to where I was a week ago, focused on what dong what we can with the assumption that I will have to race my way into the 500.”
 
Ambrose was 36th in car owner points and thought he would be locked in over the winter until the last couple of weeks when three car owners who had top-35 points but no plans to run this year began making deals with other teams outside the top 35.
 
John Andretti will get the No. 15 points from Dale Earnhardt Inc. as part of a deal with the new Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Bowyer appears set to get the No. 01 points that DEI had last year.
 
But no one will end up with the No. 41 points, allowing Ambrose in the field.
 
“Someone is looking out for me – I’m not sure who it is, but they’re doing a good job,” Ambrose said. “In a situation like this, as far as I’m concerned, is completely out of my hands. Either way the decision was going to go or will go doesn’t change who I am and how I go about my racing.
 
“I’ve always said I feel lucky to be in NASCAR, and no matter what decision was made – on the race track or off of it – I was just going to roll with it. It’s a privilege to be here.”
 
Ambrose said the car is set up as if he needed to qualify or race his way in the 500. Qualifying is Sunday, with the 150-mile duel qualifying races Thursday. Qualifying speeds and positions in the duels will determine the eight final spots in the Daytona 500.
 
“The last three or four days have been a bit of a panic,” Ambrose said. “We were going to use the duels as really a chance to grow into the car. I haven’t driven a [car of tomorrow] on a superspeedway. I’ve only had a couple of starts here at Daytona anyway.
 
“I was going to use the duels to just get into the groove and get confident and comfortable behind the wheel and find some good drafting partners and let them know that I’m not an idiot out there and I’m going to work with people if they want to. … Three or four days ago, when it looked like it might be swinging against us, we started really refocusing on trying to get a qualifying car. Right now, it’s a quite aggressive qualifying car, and we’ll see how it plays out over the next few days.”
 
Keselowski said his team was prepared until a week ago that it was going to have to qualify.
 
“I don’t think they really changed much in that process,” said Keselowski, who will drive nine or 10 races for Phoenix Racing and seven for Hendrick this year. “I don’t think it was drastic turnaround, but I’m sure there are some things [we’ll need to change].”
 
Ambrose isn’t totally convinced that he’s in the race and won’t know until qualifying Sunday.
 
“It is with caution that I say that it looks like we may be in the 500,” Ambrose said. “Until we line up and everything is really formally said, it’s NASCAR. Things change.”
 
Keselowski said he was willing to accept the decision, whichever way it went.
 
“It was going to be a huge relief to be locked in, but it is what it is,” Keselowski said. “I’m trying to adapt to it, trying to work around it. I feel like I have a good car. Now is the year to be in this situation if there is a year, so it will be interesting to see.”

Comments

22 responses to "NASCAR tells Marcos Ambrose he's in the Daytona 500; Brad Keselowski must qualify". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Howard Englishman said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Well Marcos is a good driver at least

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  2. 2
    MS said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM

    FINALLY! This whole points swapping mess has me totally confused on who is doing what and with what team. It is about time NASCAR stepped in and put at stop to at least one of the "shaky" points deals.

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  3. 3
    Sheldon Miller said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    Maybe James Finch will put Sterling in the 09 now that he'll have to race his way in? I'd love to see Sterling on the high banks.

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  4. 4
    Robert Marley said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 10:58 AM

    Any word on the 44 Almendinger car? It will be a shame if AJ is hosed out of the 500 by an accounting shell game.

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  5. 5
    Trish said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    I think car owner points should stay the were at Homestead last year. Swapping among teams is utterly riduclous, and selling is even worse. If the car number doesn't run this year, oh well ... Just my opinion.

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  6. 6
    Nancy Hall said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 11:35 AM

    Well said Trish.

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  7. 7
    ROBERT GREGORY said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 1:36 PM

    thank you nascar at least the last spot goes to a car that can run upfront how many laps before that snow plow john andretti is driving wrecks somebody or causes the big one

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  8. 8
    Pat Draper said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 1:46 PM

    I agree also that points should stay just as they were at Homestead. I'm sure Brad can race his way in if he has a good car. Not having his own 88car and team may change things. Just because he's in a hendricks car doesn't make any difference. At least it didn't with Jr. last year. So good luck to Brad i'm sure he can do it.

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  9. 9
    Jozef Colomy said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 4:10 PM

    I'm very surprised. Oh God, can't wait to hear what "Jr Nation" has to whine and cry about now with this...

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  10. 10
    James Mogseth said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 4:15 PM

    Ambrose is a great breath of fresh air, from "down under", no less. Just goes to show, great racers come from all over. Wouldn't it be great if he won? What a surprise that would be. It will be interesting to watch how he does over the course of the season. Show us what you got Marcos, and we'll see how many upset fans you can create (lol).

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  11. 11
    Patsi Wilbanks said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 4:35 PM

    We the Nation does not have to cry....we just "say the word" and PEOPLE LISTEN!!!!Ha Ha Jozef at least you admitted that even YOU listen!!!! Hmmmmm, you must be a Kylie fan or maybe horses are your favorites!!!! Heck, it might even be little Jimmie !! You just can't stand the popularity thing can you?!!

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  12. 12
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 5:33 PM

    another driver i'll keep my eye on...watching him in Nationwide there were a few wrecks that he was involved in...some because of him...

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  13. 13
    William Bassman said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    Im from Sydney Australia and im so pumped up for this year cheering Marcos Ambrose on.
    I went to Talladega last year to watch him rrace in the Aarons 312 it was the best cant wait to come back and watch him race again. But Marcos you need to payback your fans by coming home and winning at Mount Panorama some day.

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  14. 14
    Howard Englishman said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 8:20 PM

    Give me a break Patsi. who listens to abunch of women who only like the guy because of his name.

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  15. 15
    ralph grant said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    C'mon Aussie C'mon C'mon,, Great news to be in the first 5 races and here's hoping you can "get'er dun" for all of 2009. Nascar needs people like you,,,,

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  16. 16
    Patsi Wilbanks said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    Hey Howard, you were listening and reading...good for you...see, we DO know what we are talking about, even though you don't!! And, by the way, THAT NAME IS WHAT MADE NASCAR!!!!!!

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  17. 17
    Howard Englishman said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    Yeah Patsi I know that Sr. made NASCAR. I knew him well

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  18. 18
    Jim Bayliss said:
    Feb 5, 2009 at 10:20 PM

    Patsi, Patsi, Patsi:

    Earnhardt didn't "make" NASCAR. The Frances did. ALong with the Petty's, Pearson, Allison's, Martin, Johnson, Waltrip, and a whole bunch of others. Earnhardt just brought the dirty type driving. But he ran a Chevrolet, so what can we expect???
    - - - You go Marcose, I thoroughly enjoy watching you race and the interviews afterwards.

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  19. 19
    ray wells said:
    Feb 6, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    about time someone made up their minds.this is absolutly crazy.swapping points etc what a load of rubbish.any way back to what i am writing about.well done marcos ambrose and i will even predict that he will finish in the top 12
    PREDICTING THE TOP 12 IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP 2009 Here they are mine , in no particular order: 1/ Jimmie Johnson, 2/ Jeff Gordon, 3/ Dale Earnhardt Jr 4/ Mark Martin, 5/ Greg Biffle, 6/ Carl Edwards, 7/ David Ragan, 8/ Kyle Busch 9/ Denny Hamlin, 10/ marcos ambrose [HOT PICK} 11/ Kevin Harvick, 12/ Jeff Burton

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  20. 20
    ray wells said:
    Feb 6, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    go you good thing

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  21. 21
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 6, 2009 at 1:02 AM

    I Still can't believe that people pwpmtrefrovohodyjr

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  22. 22
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 6, 2009 at 10:23 AM

    You all are still trying figure that one out aren't you:-) I'm not even going to tell you what happened!! I promise, it doesn't stand for anything!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Gatorade Duel 1

Daytona International Speedway
02:00 PM, 02/11/2010

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After qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout, who is the favorite to win the Daytona 500?

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